"Xilitla / Las Pozas - A place hard to... " a Xilitla Travel Page by alfredop

What you're about to see is something you'll hardly find somewhere else in the world. To get the full experience you must be able to hear the insects buzzing and the birds singing and all the butterflies flying around! If you visit this amazing place make sure you stop to smell the flowers and basically just let yourself get lost. What you don't want to do is spend too much time wondering why someone would spend all this money and energy to create this place because there is simply no logical explanation for it, but if you insist on fiding a reason let it be one man's genius.

This page is organized in three sections, the first one will introduce you to Edward James' life and work and the rest will try to make justice to this place by guiding you through the small part I got to visit.

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La Silleta

The location

The town of Xilitla is poised on a mountainside overlooking the surrounding, green valleys and a spectacular view of the thumb-like mountain called La Silleta, an attraction for mountaineers and hikers. The picture shown was taken from www.surf-mexico.com.

Xilitla itself, whose municipal center is at an altitude of 675 meters above sea level, is surrounded by lush, semi-tropical forest and mountainsides. In the 16th C Augustinian monks arrived in Xilitla, constructing the Convent of San Agustín in the town center.

One of the principal attractions of the area is what is known as the Enchanted Garden of the Englishman, Edward James, at Las Pozas, just 2 kilometers outside of town.

The culture of coffee in these fertile mountains is an important part of Xilitla's economy. In August Xilitla is host to the Feria del Café which, apart from coffee, features exhibits of crafts, paintings, photography, cattle, culinary arts and the plants of the area including fruit trees and ornamentals.

In August, too, is Xilitla's Saint Augustine Festival in honor of the town's patron saint.

Xilitla's climate is temperate and humid. From October through March the temperature can be quite cool with the possibility of showers and fog in the area. From April through September the temperature is warmer, with the rainy season starting in July bringing additional, heavier rains. April through July is said to be an excellent time for outdoor activities such as camping and hiking.